Cunningham, John (fl. 1862) to unknown
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06318 Author/Creator: Cunningham, John (fl. 1862) Place Written: Newport News, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 March 1862 Pagination: 19 p. ; 26.2 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy
Written from Camp Butler. Eyewitness account of the destruction wrought by the CSS "Merrimac" on 8 March 1862 and the battle between the USS "Monitor" & CSS "Merrimac" the next day. Includes a separate sketch (10.3 x 12.6 cm.) of profile views of the "Monitor" and "Merrimac" on one side of the sheet and 3/4ths view of the "Monitor" on the other. Addressed to "Dear Friend." Letter on blue sheets of paper, with ink map of Hampton Roads on page one. Very detailed account of the battle. Stains on many of the pages. Signed with spelling "Cuningham." The Battle of Hampton Roads was the first naval encounter between ironclad vessels. The two ships fought at close range for several hours. Though it was tactically a draw, it eliminated the temporary advantage enjoyed by the Confederate Navy in the James River, and marked a new era in naval warfare.
Excerpt:
"onward & steadily she [the Monitor] kept her Course the Merrimac waited until she nearly touched her and then she gave her a broad side.no Sir she did not notice it but kept her course just the same & then let her gun rip at the Merrimac...the Monitor then started toward's Sewall's point & routed out the Merrimac again.this continued about 3/4 of an hour the Monitor all the while do[d]geing around the Merrimac as if she was picking out weak spots. the Yorktown and Jamestown keeping back so close to Sewall's point that their shots could not begin to reach the Minisota, & as for the Monitor it did not seem to make much difference whether they hit her or not.about 11 oclock AM the Merrimac began to slack up firing and beat a retreat. the success of the Monitor caused cheers to be given on board the Minisota. as soon as the Merrimac started for norvolk the Minisota kept sending shots after her most of them striking her at the stern..you may believe [sic] we all felt more like fighting that day."
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